ZapGossip

Mel B discusses OCD as she recalls Corrie cameo

Mel B loved stacking shelves as an extra in ‘Coronation Street’ – because she has OCD, and was paid £50 a day.
The Spice Girls singer made a short appearance on the cobbles before joining the girl band in 1994, and the 42-year-old star has admitted she was in her "element" during her stint on the ITV soap.
She said: "I was stacking shelves as an extra. It was years ago. I used to love being an extra. It was before Spice Girls. £50 a day! I didn’t speak. You get more if you speak.
"I loved it. ‘Coronation Street’ is my favourite.
"I actually really enjoyed stacking shelves because I’ve got OCD, so I was in my element."
Mel’s ‘Corrie’ recall came during a ‘Who Wants To Be a Millionaire’-style mini game on ‘Loose Women’, in which viewers had to guess which of the panellists had appeared in the soap.
While she is yet to strut her stuff in Weatherfield, show anchor Ruth Langsford issued a come-and-get-me plea to ‘Corrie’ bosses, admitting she would love to play a character who has a "hot affair" with corner shop worker Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden).
Speaking on the show, she said: "I wish it was me. I’m gutted.
"I would love to be in ‘Coronation Street’ – just in case anyone there is watching.
"Any of the producers, or anyone there in the green room?
"I’d want to have a hot affair with someone – Norris."
But Mel is not the only big-name to have appeared on the cobbles.
Sir Cliff Richard made a ‘Corrie’ cameo in 1997, appearing in the Rovers Return, Sir Ben Kingsley portrayed Ron Jenkins in the mid-60s, Joanna Lumley was a love interest of Ken Barlow (Bill Roache) in 1973, Peter Kay played drayman Eric Gartside in 2004, and Sophie Thompson portrayed a medium this year.
What’s more, Status Quo stars Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt were in three episodes in 2005, in which they performed at the wedding of Les Battersby (Bruce Jones) and Cilla Brown (Wendi Peters), and Candice Stowe (Nikki Sanderson) departed Weatherfield to be their stylist.